The Football Legends System

The air in the training camp was buzzing, not with casual chat, but with a focused hum. Everyone knew what was next: Senegal. The Lions of Teranga were not just a good team; they were a force of nature. Athletic, organized, and defensively solid. Their captain, Kalidou Koulibaly, was a mountain of a man, a defender known for shutting down the best strikers in the world.

Nathan felt a tremor of excitement mingled with respect. This was the Round of 16. No more group stage nerves, just pure knockout football. His Glide of Messi mastery, now at a shimmering 10%, felt like a warm promise in his feet. He could feel the slight boost in his agility even in simple drills, a newfound smoothness in his turns.

During tactical sessions, Gareth Southgate emphasized patience and sharp movement. "They'll sit deep, they'll be physical," he'd warned. "We need to be faster, smarter, and take our chances."

Nathan watched Koulibaly's highlights, his eyes instinctively activating his "Talent Scout" ability.

Kalidou Koulibaly – Ability: S | Potential: B+ | Overall Rating: A+

Just as I thought, Nathan mused. A brick wall. Breaking him down will be a true test.

He also noticed their star forward, even if he wasn't always available in real life, in this story he was a key threat.

Sadio Mané – Ability: S | Potential: B+ | Overall Rating: A+

Explosive, clinical, Nathan thought. We can't afford to lose focus for a second.

The walk out onto the pitch for the Senegal match felt heavier than usual. The stakes were higher. The roar of the crowd was a wave, but it felt like it was crashing against a solid, unmoving wall – Senegal's defense.

Pheeeeeep! The whistle blew, and the game began.

From the first minute, it was a battle. Senegal's midfield, led by Idrissa Gueye, pressed aggressively, closing down Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, turning the center of the park into a war zone. Up front, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka found themselves constantly double-marked.

Nathan, playing in his attacking midfield role, tried to use his improved agility to weave through, but the Senegalese defenders were disciplined, strong, and fast. Every touch was contested. Koulibaly seemed to be everywhere, anticipating passes, winning aerial duels, and simply overpowering attackers.

Minute 25. Still 0-0. England had possession, but they couldn't penetrate the final third. Passes into the box were either intercepted or deflected. Shots from outside were blocked by a forest of legs.

Nathan received the ball near the edge of the box, trying to turn. Instantly, Koulibaly was there, a shadow that moved with impossible speed for his size. He threw his arm out, not fouling, but using his sheer physical presence to shepherd Nathan away from goal. Nathan felt like he was running into a concrete barrier.

They're too strong! he thought, frustrated. We need something to punch through this.

Just as the thought formed, a clear, sharp chime echoed in his mind, cutting through the stadium's noise.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[Your team is facing an exceptionally physical and disciplined defense.]

[You may request one random legendary power/strength skill in the style of a football icon to overcome physical barriers and dominate duels.]

[Do you wish to activate it?]

Nathan's eyes lit up. This was it! Exactly what they needed. To break through these iron walls, they needed raw power.

Yes! Activate! he commanded mentally.

Ding!

[Random Skill Activated: Power of Drogba]

[Effect: For the next 5 minutes of in-game time, your physical strength, aerial ability, and power in shooting and hold-up play are significantly enhanced. You will be able to hold off defenders, win contested balls, and unleash shots with immense force.]

A surge of raw energy coursed through Nathan's body. It wasn't just his legs; it was his core, his shoulders, his arms. He felt a primal, almost unshakeable strength. He felt like he could brush off defenders, like the ball would burst off his foot with newfound velocity. This was different from the Glide; this was about brute force, refined into a footballing weapon.

Moments later, England launched another attack. Phil Foden swung in a cross from the left. It wasn't perfect, a little too high, a little too deep. Koulibaly rose majestically, already anticipating the clear. But Nathan, fueled by the Power of Drogba, leaped higher, stronger, than he thought possible.

He met the ball mid-air, challenging Koulibaly directly. The collision was immense, a crash of bodies. The Senegalese captain, usually dominant, was momentarily unsettled. Nathan didn't win the header cleanly to direct it at goal, but he managed to flick it backward, just enough to disrupt Koulibaly's clear.

The ball fell to Declan Rice just outside the box. Rice took one touch, then unleashed a powerful shot that rocketed towards the goal. Édouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper, reacted quickly, throwing himself across, but the shot was too powerful, too well-placed.

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!!!!

The net bulged! England 1-0! The stadium erupted in a wave of thunderous applause and cheers. Declan Rice sprinted towards the fans, arms raised, and the rest of the team mobbed him. Nathan walked over, slapping Declan on the back, a triumphant grin on his face. The Power of Drogba had directly led to that goal, breaking the deadlock by disturbing Koulibaly's dominance.

The goal had a visible effect on Senegal. Their rigid defense, once so impenetrable, now showed tiny cracks. England pressed their advantage. Nathan felt the Power of Drogba slowly ebb away after five minutes, but the confidence and understanding of how to use his body to shield the ball remained.

Just before halftime, England struck again. A quick counter-attack saw Bukayo Saka drive into the box. He twisted past a defender, then calmly slotted it past Mendy to make it 2-0.

The second half was a more open affair. Senegal pushed forward, desperate to get back into the game. Sadio Mané became more involved, his pace and trickery causing problems. Jordan Pickford had to make a couple of good saves, and John Stones and Harry Maguire were kept busy.

Nathan, still feeling the lingering physical confidence from the activated skill, found himself holding the ball up better, riding challenges, and linking play effectively. He tried a couple of long-range shots himself, feeling the increased power behind them, though they didn't find the net this time.

The final whistle blew. England 2-0 Senegal. A hard-fought, well-deserved victory. They were into the Quarter-finals!

In the changing room, the mood was jubilant. The team knew they had faced a tough opponent and come out on top. Gareth Southgate praised their resilience and tactical discipline.

Harry Kane walked over to Nathan, a playful smirk on his face. "You were like a wrecking ball out there, mate! What did you eat for breakfast? Koulibaly looked surprised for once!"

Nathan chuckled. "Just felt strong today, Skip. Needed to smash through that wall, eh?"

Later, as Nathan stretched out his tired muscles, the System hummed to life again.

Ding!

[System Notification]

[Your 'Overall Rating' has increased!]

[Your current Overall Rating: A-]

Nathan's eyes widened. A-! He'd finally broken into the A-tier! The defeat against Argentina and the subsequent wins, combined with the mastery of Glide and the impact of Power, were truly accelerating his progression. He was moving, slowly but surely, towards that ultimate S-tier, towards being the GOAT.

He also saw another notification, detailing his Skill Mastery progression.

[Skill Mastery Progress: Glide of Messi (15%)]

[Next Mastery Milestone: 25% (Requires sustained application of improved dribbling in high-pressure situations).]

And then, the final reveal of the night. On the TV screen in the changing room, the graphic for the Quarter-finals flashed. England would be facing…

France.

And their star player, the current holder of the Golden Ball, a player whose speed and clinical finishing struck fear into the hearts of defenders worldwide… Kylian Mbappé. This was it. The biggest test yet. The GOAT quest just got real.